Female face mask "okuyi" or "mukudji" · Gabon, Punu · ID: 3049432
sold
EUR 3,600
Provenance
Alfred L. Scheinberg, New York, USAMaurice W. Shapiro (1928-1993), New York, USA
Christie’s, New York, 11 November 1993, Lot 107
Christie’s, New York, 20 November 1997, Lot 60
German Private Collection
Size
H: 30 cm
H: 11.8 inch
Description
wood, kaolin, base
This beautiful old mask with the typical whitened face is one of the so-called “white-faced masks from the Ogooué”.
These masks represent female entities from the spirit world and especially performed during mourning rites. They belonged to the male “mwiri” secret society.
Publications
African Arts, 1985, vol. XVIII, no.3, p.12, Alfred ScheinbergAHDRC: 0049249